Thursday Night Live performance series returns

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The Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park celebrates its 13th year presenting outdoor music, as it opens the annual series on June 23, featuring the music of the Longmont Concert Band, under the direction of Richard M. Kohl. Thursday Night Live is a free performance series presented as part of the Cultural Arts Council`s Community Outreach Programs every Thursday night, starting on June 23, and running through Aug. 25. Performances begin at 7 p.m. and are held at Performance Park, located at 417 W. Elkhorn Ave. The 2011 Thursday Night Live line-up includes jazz, pop, concert band, polka, Dixieland jazz and Celtic performances. Also, the series will feature a singer/songwriter benefit concert for Crossroads Ministry on July 14.

The June 23 performance features the Longmont Concert Band, a non-profit organization composed of volunteer musicians from Longmont and surrounding communities. Orchestra members ranging in age from 17 to 82 will present a program providing quality concert band music and a fun-filled evening for audiences of all ages. In its first eight years of history, the Longmont Concert Band has grown from a group of 15 players to 40 players today, with almost complete instrumentation. The concert band was founded by Robert Crow, who moved to Longmont and wanted a place to play his instrument in his retirement. Crow played in military bands for several years. This year`s Thursday Night Live performance will be its third appearance in Estes, a favorite venue of the organization. The program plans for this year include marches, Broadway and television medleys, and several selections from the Big Band Swing era, which feature solos by three members of the band.

LCB`s director, Richard M. Kohl, is a Colorado native and a retired musical educator. Kohl received a degree in music from the University of Northern Colorado, and has done graduate studies at the University of Denver, Oberlin Conservatory and the University of Colorado at Boulder.

“The Longmont Concert Band is important to me,” Kohl said. “We are fortunate to have so many members who are fine musicians. Our goals are to provide quality concert band music to the general public, to provide a fun and invigorating atmosphere for local amateur musicians, to create music and to increase the sense of community in the local area by being active participants in local events. We are open to adults and high school students.”

The June 23 performance will include

“Radio Waves” — Fred Jewell

“Jesus Christ Superstar” — Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Weber

“Chillers and Thrillers” — John Williams

“Band Of Brothers” — Michael Kamen

“Fiddle-Faddle” — Leroy Anderson

“Colonel Bogey”– Kenneth Alford

“Benney Goodman The King Of Swing” — arranged by Paul Murtha

“Blue Moon” — Rodgers/Hart

“Way Down Yonder In New Orleans” — Jerry Nowak

“Someone To Watch Over Me” — George and Ira Gershwin

“Big Band Spectacular” — Jack Bullock

“Stars and Stripes Forever” — John Phillip Sousa

The remaining 2011 Thursday Night Live Series includes

June 30 – Brad Fitch, Folk and Western — Known locally as “Cowboy Brad,” this vocalist/guitarist performs original music and popular favorites

July 7 -101st Army Band — Centennial Winds — A variety of patriotic and family-friendly music includes the National Anthem, the National March and the Armed Forces Salute.

July 14 – Summer Song Fest II, a variety of folk music and styles benefit concert for Crossroads Ministry

Aug. 11 – Dick Zavodny Polka Band — Traditional polka music sure to get you dancing!

Aug. 18 – Estes Park Village Band — Classical, contemporary and popular music

Aug. 25 — Matthew Gurnsey, “The Kilted Man” — Presents an evening of music with new life to old songs and original material in a Celtic repertoire.

In 2010, 3,350 persons enjoyed the free summer performance series.

Thursday Night Live is presented with underwriting support from the Estes Park Rotary Foundation, Coldwell Banker – Estes Village Properties (Vicky Holler, Mary Murphy and Wayne Newsom), Estes Park Local Marketing District and Estes Park Convention and Visitor Bureau. Free-will donations are also accepted at the end of each performance and help pay the musician`s honorariums. The Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit arts agency serving the greater Estes Valley. The Arts Council is celebrating its 21st anniversary in 2011.

Programs begin at 7 p.m., weather permitting. The audience is asked to bring chairs and blankets for a more comfortable evening. The CAC arts facility is located directly in front of Performance Park at 423 W. Elkhorn Ave. The CAC Fine Art Gallery is open before, during and after each concert, and the public is encouraged to view the current exhibit, “Art of the Parks – Celebrating Our National Park System” featuring 75 paintings by 15 of America`s top artists. The gallery is a short distance to the concert.